Four legged trot hopple



Dec. 3, 1957 A. J. KNAUSS FOUR LEGGED T1201: HOPPLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fiied July 27. 1956 INVENTOR. Amos 4. KHAUSS ATTOIZNEYS Dec. 3, 1957 A. J. KNAUSS FOUR LEGGE'D TROT HOPPLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27', 1956 R m m ALOIS J KNAUSS ATTO IZHEYS A. J. KNAUSS FOUR- LEGGED TROT HOPPLE Dec. 3, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 27, 1956 ATTORNEYS "United States The present invention relates to trot hopples or gait regulators for trotting horses, and represents a continuation-in-part of my cO-pending application Serial No. 525,685, filed August 5, 1955.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a four-legged, rather than the usual two-legged trot hopple or gait regulator. Heretofore, to my knowledge, there has not been conceived a four-legged trot hopple. It is believed, in this connection, that the advantages of a fourlegged trot hopple would be many, as will be hereinafter made apparent.

In considering the characteristics of the gait of a trotting horse, it may be noted that the front legs alternate in harmony. However, the front legs alternate in harmony independently of the back legs, and the back legs likewise alternate independently of the front or fore legs.

Further, the front and back legs are dependent upon one another for the purpose of producing a good gait. When a horse bucks, breaks into a gallop, or tries to kick, all four legs are involved. It is proposed, in this regard, to provide a four-legged trot hopple so designed that if the horse tries to buck, gallop, or kick, it will be restrained from doing so, in a manner to provide convincing proof for the horse that its natural gait is more comfortable, as a result of which the horse will tend to return to its natural gait.

Still further, when on the track the race cart is constantly shifting forwardly or rearwardly, according to the condition of the track and according, further, to increase or decrease in the speed of the horse. Since the trot hopple or gait regulator depends upon the horses action, the shifting of the race cart or the condition of the track will not affect or hinder the horse in its action.

Another object of importance is to provide a trot hopple of the character described so designed as to provide hopple rings or cufis novelly designed in a manner to fit a horses leg loosely and comfortably, while still being fully eiiicient for their intended purpose of controlling the gait of the horse, said rings being particularly shaped, formed, and padded to serve with maximum etficiency in providing a cushion for the horses leg, in aiding to keep the hopple ring in shape, and in keeping the rope attached to the ring from slipping.

Another object is to provide elastic hopple carriers so designed as to stretch as necessary to permit a horse to trot at all times with maximum case, while still serving to properly hold the hopples in place.

Still another object is to provide a trot hopple that will be so designed as to include a combination of snaps, attachments, and the like that will permit removal of the hopple in a minimum time, it being found that the hopple can be removed entirely in approximately 30 seconds, and replaced in an equally short time. In the racing of trotting horses, this is of importance in view of the fact that a two-heat system is common practice. A horse always is allowed about thirty minutes rest between heats, and the invention is designed so that it can be removed immediately after the first heat to allow him complete rest during the interval between heats.

atent nice Other objects will appear from the following description, the claim appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the four-legged trot hopple as it appears when in use;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the trot hopple per se;

Figure 3 is a still further enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing the connection of one of the cables to one of the rear hopple rings;

Figure 4 is a plan sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged, longitudinal section through the housing on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it should be noted at the outset that in Figures 1 and 4, the front of the hopple is at the left of the figure, while in Figure 2 the front of the hopple is at the right of the figure. With this kept in mind, a readier understanding of the construction will, it is believed, he had from the description which follows hereinafter.

The four-legged trot hopple constituting the invention can appropriately be considered as comprising a plurality of main components or assemblies, each of which will be described in detail hereinafter. These main components include a housing assembly generally designated at 10 centrally disposed in the device and adapted to engage against the belly of the horse as shown in Figure l; a front hopple ring assembly generally designated at 12; a rear hopple ring assembly generally designated at 14; a yoke or front hopple carrier assembly generally designated at 16; a rear hopple carrier assembly generally designated 18; a front hopple retainer assembly 20 connected to the rear of the front hopple assembly 12; a suspension strap assembly generally designated 22 connected to the housing assembly 10; and a rear hopple retainer assembly generally designated 24 connected to the front of the rear hopple ring assembly 14.

Considering first the construction of the housing assembly 10, reference should be had to Figure 5. The housing includes a top plate 25 of a light, strong metal material such as aluminum, and underlying the top plate 25 is an elongated pulley retainer 28, 30 comprising elongated top and bottom plates having reduced, rounded ends (see Figure 4), said ends being integral with connecting members 32.

Spaced longitudinally of the pulley retainer are identical pulleys 34, 36, mounted on ball bearings 38, 40 respectively. The pulleys rotate upon bolts 42, 44 connected between the plates 25, 28, 30, and securing the peripherally grooved pulleys to the ball bearings are set screws 46, 48 respectively.

Extending transversely of the housing, intermediate opposite ends thereof, is a spacer plate 50* (Figure 4) formed at its opposite ends with parallel sleeves receiving connecting bolts 52.

Cemented to the top surface of the plate 25 is a sponge rubber pad 26, adapted to bear against the belly of the horse, so as to provide maximum comfort for the horse when the device is in use.

Considering now the front hopple ring assembly 12, this includes a pair of ring members 56, 58 elongated in a fore-and-aft direction as shown in Figure 4. These fit loosely about the four legs of the horse, but not so loosely as to permit the horse to jump or gallop without being restrained by the front hopple rings.

The rear hopple ring assembly 14 includes rear hopple ring members as, 62 shaped similarly to the front hopple rings. It will be understood that the several hopple rings will be made in any appropriate size, according to the desires of the manufacturer.

The particular construction of the hopple rings is of 3. importance. Each hopple ring may be of leather or plastic, and as mentioned is made to fit a horses leg loosely. The leather or plastic covering material is laced as shown at 64 in Figure 2, and within the covering there is provided a nylon cord extending through the full circumference of the ring. A rope rider is also extended through the full circumference of the ring, being disposed between the inner ring circumference and the mentioned cord. The rider would be made of leather or plastic, and would be relatively wide, said rider being concave on one side and convex on the other with the convex face thereof facing the rope. The rider would form a cushion for the horses leg, helping to hold the hopple ring in shape and assisting, further, in preventing slippage of the rope upwardly or downwardly.

Referring now to the front yoke or hopple carrier 16, shown to best advantage in Figure 2, this includes a pair of elongated straps 66 to the inner ends of which are secured bifurcated members 68, 68. The divergent ends of each bifurcation are extended directly into the associated hopple ring member 58 or 56 as the case may be, and secured fixedly therein. It is mainly important, in this regard, that the U-shaped yoke 16 be secured to the front ends of the front hopple ring members 56, 58 in such a manner as to prevent the yoke from working loose from the ring members, and insure that a firm connection may be had therebetween throughout the life of the device.

Connected between the straps of the front yoke is a cross member 70 of strap material, adjustable in length and extendable across the front of the horses body as shown in Figure 1.

The side straps 66, at their other ends, extend through slots formed in the ends of a curved member 72. Member 72 has a connecting element 74, provided with snaps at its opposite ends engaging the adjacent ends of the side straps 66. Member 72 would be curved to fit over the horses neck in the manner shown in Figure 1, so that in effect, the yoke 16, of inverted U-shape, straddles the horse at the base of the neck, extending downwardly to the front ends of the front hopple ring members 56, 58.

Preferably, the yoke or front hopple carrier 16 has two removable brass stays to prevent rusting, and when shaped to the horses neck will always ride or carry the hopple evenly. Further, the two stays are desirable in the event that one is broken, since the other will carry the load safely without loss of comfort until the broken stay is replaced. Heretofore, metal stays have been sewed in, causing delay and inconvenience in replacing them, whereas the stays provided as shown may be replaced in a matter of a relatively few minutes.

Referring now to the rear hopple carrier or yoke assembly, this is of inverted Y-shape. It includes a triangular crupper 76, the apex portion of which merges into an elongated, forwardly projecting strap 78.

The rear yoke assembly 18 also includes a pair of elongated straps 82 diverging downwardly from the larger, rear end portion of the crupper 76. At their lower, divergent ends, straps 82 are integrally formed with bifurcations 84, which are secured to the rear ends of the rear hopple ring members 60, 62. At their convergent ends, the straps 82 are connected adjustably to buckles 86 carried by the crupper 76.

The crupper overlies, and is connected to the back strap 80 of the horses harness. The back strap 80 does not constitute part of the present invention and is shown in Figure 1, together with other conventional portions of the harness of the horse.

The front hopple retainer assembly 20 will now be described. This is best shown in Figures 1 and 2 and includes a pair of straps 88 adjustable in length, connected at their inner ends to flexible, wide loops 911 straddling the rear end portions of the front hopple ring members 56, 58 and connected in place by lengths of 4 tape 92 secured to the inner periphery of said ring members and secured also to the bight portion of the loops 9%. The loops M9 are slotted at transversely spaced locations, with the inner ends of the strap members 88 being looped and passed through the slots.

At their outer ends, the retaining strap members 88 are provided with snaps 94. Referring now to Figure l, the snaps 94 are connectable to the terrets $6 of the harness assembly, through which terrets the reins 98 pass. Terrets 96 and reins 98 do not contstitute part of the present invention.

Referring now to the suspension strap assembly 22, this includes at opposite sides of the housing assembly 16 a pair of elongated straps 1110 the lower ends of which have bifurcations 102 connected (see Figure 4) to buckles 1% provided upon loops carried by opposite sides of the lower pulley retainer plate 28. Straps 1% at their upper ends are connected to opposite ends of a transversely extending, curved connecting member or stay 1196 curved to fit the horses back. Carried by the connecting member are loops having buckles 108, to which the upper ends of the straps 1011 are adjustably connected. intermediate the buckles 108, the stay 106 has closely spaced, parallel keeper straps 110, connectable to buckles, and having a purpose to be made presently apparent.

Underlying the bottom retainer plate 28 is the midlength portion of a wide strap member 112, and connected to the opposite ends of the strap member 112 are loop-like strap extensions 114 adjustable in length and provided at their upper ends with snaps 116, connectable to selected eyes (see Figure 1) depending from the shafts 118 of the race cart. The shafts 118 and the eyes thereof do not constitute part of the present invention.

Thus, it will be seen that the suspension strap assembly includes a first strap portion 101) adapted to pass fully about the horses body. Said suspension assembly further includes auxiliary strap members 112, 114 connectable to the shafts of the sulky or race cart.

The rear hopple ring retainer assembly 24 will now be described. It includes strap members 120 shown to best advantage in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Members 120, at their upper ends, are connectable to opposite ends of a wide connector member 122. Connector member 122 has, extending longitudinally thereof, a connecting piece 124 of adjustable length, to which the members 120 may be detachably connected.

At their lower ends, the strap members 129 are formed into loops 126 as shown in Figure 3, and designated at 128 is a -C-shaped shield or connector 128 of rawhide, straddling the front portion of the rear hopple members 61B, 62.

Adjacent the connectors 128, auxiliary connector straps 13% are attached at one end to the respective rear hopple ring members. At their other ends, the auxiliary connector straps 139 are connected to buckles 132 provided intermediate the ends of the straps 120.

It is important to note, in connection with the front and rear hopple retainer assemblies 20, 24, that the straps 88, 120, 134) are all formed of a resiliently elongata'ble material. The elasticity of these assemblies, accordingly, permits stretching during use of the device, so that the horse may continually trot with case.

*It may also be noted that the bifurcation defined by the provision of the auxiliary connector straps serves to prevent the rear hopple ring members from wobbling, this being important in view of the fact that the members 60, 62 are larger than the vfront ring members 56, 58.

Trained intermediate their ends about the respective pulleys 34, 36 are ropes or cables 134, 136 respectively. The front cable 134 is connected at its ends to the inner ends of the front hopple rings 56, 58, whilethe ends of the rear cable 136 are formed into loops as shown 5 in Figure 3, with the loops being closed by and engaged under clamp elements 138 extending into seats 140 car ried by the lower portions of the C-shaped connectors 128. The clamps are so designed that the portions 138 can be drawn downwardly to securely clamp the cable 136 to the connector 128.

In use of the device, it is put upon the horse in the manner shown in Figure 1. The strap 78 may pass through the straps 110, 124, and is connected to the hack strap, with the rear hopple retainer assembly and the suspension strap assembly 22 being similarly connected to the harness.

The ropes 134, 136 are preferably of a strong material, such as a silk nylon, which may be dyed and then soaked in shellac. When drying, the rope is given a stiffness sufiicient to keep the same from wobbling, but still leaving the rope sufliciently pliable to work easily within the pulleys.

It will be noted that by reason of the arrangement illustrated and described, a four-legged gait regulator or trot hopple is provided, that is applied to all four legs of the horse. The front hopple assembly controls only the movement of the front legs, while the rear hopple assembly controls only the movement of the rear legs. This is desirable in view of the fact that the front legs work in harmony, independently of the rear legs, which also work in harmony with each other.

Also of importance is the fact that the entire device can be adjusted to fit any size horse, and to fit the stride of the particular horse.

This is of importance because even if trot hopples were made in three sizes, such as small, medium, or large, they would still not fit all horses.

On the track the race cart constantly shifts forwardly and rearwardly. The particular construction of the hopple or gait regulator depends upon the horses action only, so that this movement of the race cart relative to the horse does not affect operation of the device.

At all times, whenever the horse attempts to jump or break into a gallop, the several hopple ring members will wholly prevent this from happening, by restraining the horse. The result is that the horse tends toremain properly gaited, and is swiftly and easily trained by use of the four-legged hopple, as compared to the hopples previously devised, all of which, so far as is known, have been restricted to the front legs.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intend-ed to be illustrative of the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a ring and retainer assembly of a trot hopple, the improvement comprising: a pair of side-by-side hopple rings; a flexible element connected at its ends to the respective rings; C-shaped connectors embracing the respective rings, each connector including end. portions projecting outwardly from the ring embraced thereby in vertically spaced relation, the element end connected to said embraced ring being extended between said end portions; and retainer straps extending upwardly from the respective rings and formed at their lower end with closed loops, each of said loops having side portions removably extending through the end portions of a connector at opposite sides of the element and extending between the end portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 131,978 Springer Oct. 8, 1872 444,032 Whitaker Ian. 6, 1891 741,023 Filbey Oct. 13, 1903 1,212,023 Curley Ian. 9, 1917 

